May Bank Holiday and a trip to Scarborough

It's May Bank Holiday today. Sarah and I have begun semi-serious training on our bikes for the Edinburgh to Newcastle trip we're attempting in about a months time. Seventy miles in three days, the prospect becomes more frightening the more I say it. So today we've done a lot of cycling. We cycled all the way to Salford Quays and had a lovely time in the sun. Hopefully our East coast trip in a few weeks will be just as wind free and sunny, but not too hot, and perhaps a light breeze.

Talking of the East coast, where was I? Oh yes, the day before our 'A' level results. The following day would determine the rest of our lives. I needed four 'A' grades and Spud needed similar. Several of my class were trying for medical school. Those who weren't were hoping for an Arts degree. Phil had already got into Oxford, well virtually, I think he needed two 'E's or something. The rest of us were worried.
So that night we decided to go out, and where better than to the Top Ten club, venue for many a rocking evening with Harvey.

Harvey was our band. Me, Spud, my brother Peter, Pete on key boards and Geoff the drummer. We were Harvey and had, not quite, taking the town by storm. The first high school band, and it was great.

We played at a few venues around Huddersfield, but our favourite was the Top Ten. We'd start off with Jumping Jack Flash or 'Alright now' and go through the, admittedly meagre, repertoire and finishing with 'Nights in White Satin'. The girls loved it, and after all, that was the point. Hopefully if enough of our friends were in they'd cheer and we'd do an encore. They got an encore whether they cheered or not, and for this we did 'The House of the Rising Sun'. It was the best and rockyest version ever and I loved it. I can still remember finishing with it at a school disco and the house coming down. I controlled the audience with a flick of my hair. OK so this bit might have become embellished over time, but who cares. These were great times, and they were about to end for ever. So why not end them at the Top Ten Club. No gig tonight, just a handful of anxious sixth formers.

Now sixth formers with no money can spin out a glass of beer, and that's what we did. There was Gordon and Phil and me and Spud, and a few others. The somber and sober evening drew to a close. The chairs were going onto the table tops and the hoover sounded chucking out time.

'What do we do now?' one of us asked. I can't remember if it was me or Spud. For everyone else it was time to go home. For me and Spud, the night was yet young. 'What is there to do?'. 'F all here' we stared out of the window as the occasional car or taxi drove up a silent main street.

'I know, lets go to Scarborough' he said to me or I said to him, I can't remember. And that's how we got the idea. Spuds parents were in Majorca for the week, but their car was in the garage, and I had a driving licence. And that's how, at 2 o'clock in the morning we set off for Scarborough.